People who email me asking about cravings, usually follow low carb, low calorie and low essential fat diets. They top it off spending too many hours in the gym every week on the cross trainer or treadmill.
Their blood sugar levels are all over the place, stress levels are through the roof and sleep is non-existent. This is the perfect environment for cravings!
In many instances, there is a logical reason for your cravings.
Here are some of my top tips to follow:
Include essential fats with your meals: Use avocado, nuts, seeds, oils – fats help stabilise your blood sugar and often the blood sugar fluctuations cause cravings.
Include carbs in your post workout meal: Not only to help stabilise blood sugar levels, but also to replenish glycogen stores.
Eat carbs with your last meal of the day. Not only will you look forward to this carb meal, but low glycemic (slow releasing) carbohydrates raise your levels of serotonin (a calming neurotransmitter), which helps you relax and unwind.
Have a couple of squares of dark chocolate in the evening: This might seem a strange one, but the health benefits of dark chocolate (over 70% cocoa solids) really shouldn’t be overlooked. Dark chocolate is loaded with minerals such as magnesium and iron, and it’s rich in antioxidants.
Do you have a sweet tooth?
Check out the desserts sections in our recipe books for some fresh ideas on healthy, delicious options to address those ‘late-in-the-day’ cravings… but be sure to tell me your intentions!
Steve
